Welcome to the Asian Heritage Month Festival! It wasn't long ago that many Canadians didn't know much about Asian cultures or even the geography of the various parts of Asia. Today, most people still don't know how diverse Asian cultures are, yet how uniquely linked they are through history, religion, trade and cultural nuances. In 2014, during Asian Heritage Month we taught many Canadians about the historical significance of the Silk Road, which was the original link between east and west and somewhat of a metaphor of what is happening in trade between Asia and Canada today.

Asian Heritage Month is a time for Asians to embrace their culture while learning about their neighbours. As a Canadian celebration, it is also about opening up the world of Asia to ALL Canadians. From dance and music to culinary adventures and education roundtables, I encourage all Canadians to take full advantage of the many events happening throughout the month of May. A great starting point is our Asian Heritage Month Festival Virtual Museum of Asian Canadian Cultural Heritage at http://www.vmacch.ca. There you will find a wealth of information, interesting photos and wonderful stories.

And remember, Asian Heritage Month is meant to spark your continued interest all year long. I look forward to celebrating with all of you.

The theme of Asian Heritage Month Festival 2014 is "The Silk Road Connecting the East and The West". All events are FREE. Here are the activities at a glance. Please scroll down for further details.

Asian Heritage Month Festival is partially funded by the Government of Canada through the Department of Canadian Heritage, Department of Citizenship and Immigration Canada and Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (for community engagement and academic outreach)
EVENT DETAILS

CLICK! SPLASH! | ASIAN CANADIAN ART AND PHOTOGRAPHY FAIR
Date: Saturday, May 17, 2014
Time: 2pm-4pm
Venue: Metro Hall RotundaMedia Coverage from www.lovingsister.comEnglish translation of media coverageAsian Canadian Visual Artists Workshop/Demo: There will be an experimental
installation/performance. The visual artists want to free the 2-D piece of art from fixed
wall space and put it into activities. The activities are improvisation created by the
individual painters, such as dance movements, Taichi, singing, or some non-descriptive
movements. They will invite some audience to participate in the 3-D creative action as
well. The purpose of this experiment is to challenge and expand the boundaries of
paintings with actions and movements.

Photographers Workshop and Demo: There will be an open discussion on photography
with Asian Canadian photographers on various topics, such as the cultural history behind
the photos. There will be in-depth discussions regarding the photos in the exhibition,
including the choice of subject, what motivated them to take the photos, and the cultural
meaning they would like to bring out.

The Virtual Museum of
Asian Canadian Cultural Heritage
(VMACCH) strives:

To provide opportunities for
Asian Canadians to share their heritage and to promote a better
understanding of Asian heritage by focusing annually on the month
of May, designated as Asian Heritage Month.

To enrich Canadian culture
by building on the achievement of Asian Canadians

To achieve full participation
by Asian Canadians in the cultural life of Canada

To build cultural bridges
between Asian countries and regions.

To encourage education of
Asian heritage and culture within the broader public

To establish a relationship
and to co-operate with other persons, parties or Corporations
with similar or parallel purposes.

In showcasing Asian Canadian
heritage, VMACCH enables Asian Canadians to share their heritage
among themselves and with the rest of Canada. It exhibits the
achievements and contributions of Asian Canadians to Canada. Featuring
works by Asian Canadian artists, it encourages participation in
the cultural life of Canada. The website is meant to connect Asian
culture to other cultures, and show that it is part of the overarching
Canadian culture. It is also a valuable teaching resource on Asian
heritage and culture to schools, and the preparation of the website
involves collaborations with various parties including other voluntary
organizations like Social Service Network, and the Chinese Canadian
Photographic Society of Toronto, and mainstream museums such as
the Gardiner Museum and the Bata Shoe Museum in Toronto.

WELCOME MESSAGE
BY SENATOR VIVIENNE POY

Welcome to the Virtual Museum
of Asian Canadian Cultural Heritage, an online forum for showcasing
the many aspects of Asian Canadian culture and heritage. Through
a great variety of artistic and cultural expressions, the virtual
museum provides visitors with a glimpse into a new world which
highlights the experience of a growing demographic. The Virtual
Museum brings together many different ethnic groups from various
regions of Canada while recognizing the voices of multiple generations
of Canadians. It also offers our Asian Canadian communities a
chance to engage in an ongoing dialogue. Finally, the VMACCH fills
a vacuum within the education system by allowing students across
the country to readily access research materials about our Asian
Canadian communities. Please enjoy exploring the Virtual Museum
of Asian Canadian Cultural Heritage!
Date: 2009

The Virtual Museum of Asian Canadian Cultural Heritage was made
possible with the support of the Department
of Canadian Heritage through the Canadian Culture Online Strategy